ALTON FC 0, HAMBLE CLUB 3

HAMBLE Club will be the team to beat this season in the Sydenhams League Division One. This was their ninth straight win and they have a well-balanced side with experience and strength in all the right places.

Even so, the scoreline flattered them at the Enclosure on Saturday.

Hamble narrowly had the better of a cagey first half, with clear chances at a premium. Alton keeper Mo Nyamunga was quickly off his line when the visitors did fashion a decent opening, forcing striker Jamie Mansell to screw his shot wide.

Both sides were now playing some attractive football and Hamble made the breakthrough on 25 minutes while Alton were down to 10 men through injury. Mansell’s initial shot was blocked, but the rebound fell nicely for him and he struck the ball home sweetly.

Hamble held their 1-0 lead at half-time, but that was down to their keeper, Sam Webb, who pulled off an outstanding one-handed save to claw a deflected shot away for a corner.

Alton bossed the early stages of the second half, only to again be denied by Webb. Substitute Jon Gray cleverly slipped Curtis Thorn in on goal, but his stinging shot was deflected wide of the far post by the onrushing keeper.

Hamble always looked a threat on the counter-attack and when Alton needlessly gave up possession just inside their own half, the visitors broke swiftly on the 3G surface and a slick exchange of passes left Mansell to coolly slot past Nyamunga in a one-on-one.

Mansell then blotted his copybook by getting a straight red card for a reckless challenge, but Alton’s numerous sorties proved fruitless as Hamble defended strongly and kept a good shape as they soaked up the pressure.

With minutes to go, Hamble broke away and pressured Alton into a second yellow card, meaning that both sides finished the game with ten men.

Doug Rowe converted the resulting penalty to give his side a somewhat flattering margin of victory.

The reaction of the teams at the final whistle spoke volumes. Alton were frustrated, believing they deserved better, while Hamble’s celebration suggested they knew they had been in a game.